Identification system for keys



July 28, 1931. FETTER 1,816,642

IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR KEYS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 x mslxmyml Colored IN V EN TOR.

& A TTORNEY Patented July 28, 1931 7 HABBY H FETTER, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR KEYS 'ij plication filed February 20, 1931. Serial No. 517,857.

My invention relates broadly to keys and more particularly to a system for identifying particular keys of a group of keys which closely resemble each other.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a system for identifying particular keys within a group of keys which bear a close resemblance to each other and which are difficult to distinguish one from another.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of key and identification devices of different contrasting colors adapted to readily distinguish selected keys within a group of keys.

Still another object of my invention is to provide identification devices for keys having different shapes and contours as well as distinguishing and contrasting colors by which a desired key may be readily identified from a group of keys closely resembling one another.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of keys as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is an elevational vlew showlng a group of keys and the identification markers carried thereby in accordance with my 1nvention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a key showing a colored marker applied thereto according to my invention; Fig. 3-is a crosssectional view taken through a portion of the key of Fig. 2 on line 33 thereof and indicating the position of a colored marker .thereon; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a group of keys provided with markers of contrasting colors where the markers also 0 have contrastin shapes enabling the keys to be identified y a sense of touch; Fig. 5

is an edge view of one of the keys with a portion thereof shown in cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an edge view of one of the keys with a portion thereof shown in cross-section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the keys showing the application of a marker of distinguishing shape and color to the key;

9 and Fig. 8 represents a lock to which an identifying color may be applied to facilitate the matchlng of a particular key in a group of keys with the lock with which the selected key is intended to cooperate.

My invention is directed to a method of l.

avoiding the confusion which exists in attempting to open a lock with a group of keys which closely resemble each other. I provide an identif ing marker which may be inexpensively ormed in the key, the

marker bearing a striking color of contrast with respect to a marker in an associated key. I may be rovide a recess in the key which filled with a colored enamel molded to a desired shape. The colored enamel may extend flush with the surface of the key or may project therefrom and have an identifying characteristic shape imparted thereto by a molding process in order that a particular ke may be readily selected from a group of eys by sense of touch. It is customary to carry upon one key ring, keys which so closely resemble each other in shape that a selection of a particular key from a group of keys is time consuming and of a close resemblance one to another.

shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the

key 2 stamped into the key 2 when the ke rovided with a recess 5 which is blanked. A milling tool is employe to undercut the recess 5 as shown at 6 thus providing a recess larger at its base interiorly of the key blan and tapering to a smaller diameter adjacent the surface of the ke in the blank. This ocket thus formed y blank provi es a cavity in which enamel in paste-like form may1 be deposited and baked. The converging walls 6 of the recess 5 serve to retain the baked enamel in the key blank. Differently colored enamels are employed for the identification of different keys. For example, key 2 is provided with an enamel insert 7 of'cobalt blue. Key 3 is provided with an insert of red enamel as designated at '8, while key 4 is provided with an insert of black enamel re resented at 9. Various colors may be emp 0 ed for identifying the particular keys. T e lock with which a particular key is adapted to cooperate, such as shown at 10 in Fig. 8, may be provided with a similar recess. 11 in wh1ch enamel of selected color is baked for facilitating the matching of the required key with the lock. I

While the contrasting colors serve to distinguish the various keys, I may also employ an enamel insert of particular shape for enabling the key to be identified not only by a contrast of color but also by the sense of touch. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 4 where key 2 is rovided with a blue enamel insert 10 whic is semi-spherical in contour and is retained in the recess 5 by the converging walls 6. The semispherical blue protuberance from the key blank may be very readily identified both by the color and by the shape thereof as represented in Fig. 6. The key blank 4 may be provided with a baked enamel insert 11,

lack in color, and conical in shape as represented in Fig. 5 so that the protruding point of the enamel insert may be felt and the key promptly identified.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the key blank 3 may be provided with a red enamel insert having a pyramidal shaped head 12. In each instance, the enamel insert is baked in the key and retained therein by the undercut portion 6 of the recess. In the ke structure where a square recess is stampe in the key blank 3 to receive the pyramidal shaped insert 12, the cutting tool which mills out the undercut portion of the recess may provide ockets only in a circular path as designate in dotted lines 14 similar to the undercut portion 6 in the circular recesses in the other key blanks. However, the enamel seeps into the undercut portions of the recess and is retained in position against dislodgment.

In lieu of contrasting colors, I may employ a luminous paint for identifying a key. I may also desire to color the surface of the key with a distinctively colored paint which may cover any portion of the key. Colored enamel may be used and baked by heat treatment on the key for providing the contrasting color characteristics for identifying the different keys. I may also display trademarks on the key or some portion thereof in contrasting colors for securing an adver- 1. A device of the class described comprising a key blank having a depression therein, said depression being undercut at its base and a mass of plastic material anchored in said depression, said material being molded in a predetermined identifying shape.

2. A device of the class described comprising a key blank having a depression therein, said depression being undercut at its base and a mass of plastic material anchored in said depression, said material being molded into a predetermined shape for identifying said key by sense of touch of said shaped material, said material differing in color from the key blank for identifying said key.

v 3. A device of the class described comprising a key blank having a polygonal shaped depression therein, an undercut recess at the base of said polygonal shaped depression within said key blank, and a mass of plastic material anchored in said de ression and conforming with the shape of said recess ind filling said recess for identifying said 4. A device of the class described comprising a key blank having a circular depression in the form of an undercut recess therein and a mass of colored lastic material forming a solid insert con orming with the shape of said circular depression for identifying said key.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' HARRY H. FETTER. 

